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Donegal County Council

*Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall*
Donegal County Council ; Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall
Type
Type	County council
Leadership
Cathaoirleach	Niamh Kennedy, Ind
Structure
Seats	37
Political groups	Fianna Fáil (10) Sinn Féin (10) 100% Redress (4) Fine Gael (3) Labour (1) Independent (9)
Elections
Last election	7 June 2024
Motto
	Mutuam habeatis caritatem (Latin); "Maintain among you mutual love and charity"
Meeting place
	County House, Lifford
Website
	donegalcoco.ie

Donegal County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall) is the authority responsible for local government in County Donegal, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. It has 37 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by a chief executive, John McLaughlin. The county town is Lifford.

History

Donegal County Council, which had previously held its meetings in Lifford Courthouse,^[2] acquired County House in Lifford for use as its meeting place and administrative headquarters in 1930.^[3]

The d'Hondt method has been deployed by Donegal County Council since 2009 and has worked on all but Budget Day, leading Martin Harley (running mate of Joe McHugh at the 2020 general election) to suggest it be used to help form a government.^[4]

Following the 2015 RTÉ programme Standards in Public Office, in March 2019, John O'Donnell was found by the Standards in Public Office Commission to have contravened the Local Government Act in three different instances, including failure to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest.^[5]

Regional Assembly

Donegal County Council has three representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly where they are part of the Border Strategic Planning Area Committee.^[6]

Elections

Members of Donegal County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).

Year		FF		SF		100%R		FG		Lab		IFF		WP		DPP		Ind	Total
2024	10		10		4		3		1		—		0		—		9		37
2019	12		10		—		6		1		—		0		—		8		37
2014	11		9		—		6		1		—		0		—		10		37
2009	10		4		—		8		2		—		0		—		5		29
2004	14		4		—		8		0		2		0		0		1		29
1999	14		0		—		8		1		4		0		0		2		29
1991	11		1		—		9		1		4		1		1		1		29
1985	11		2		—		9		0		5		1		1		0		29

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

County Donegal is divided into local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.^[7]

Municipal District	LEA	Definition	Seats
Donegal		An Bhinn Bhán, An Leargaidh Mhór, Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Ballyshannon), Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Donegal), Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Bonnyglen, Bundoran Rural, Bundoran Urban, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cill Charthaigh, Cill Ghabhlaigh, Cliff, Clogher, Corkermore, Cró Chaorach, Crownarad, Donegal, Dunkineely, Eanymore, Gleann Cholm Cille, Grousehall, Haugh, Inver, Killybegs, Laghy, Loch Iascaigh, Málainn Bhig, Pettigoe, Tantallon, Tawnawully, Templecarn, Tieveskeelta and Tullynaught.	6
Glenties		An Clochán Liath, An Craoslach, An Dúchoraidh, An Ghrafaidh, An Machaire, Anagaire, Árainn Mhór, Ard an Rátha, Ards, Baile na Finne, Caisleán na dTuath, Críoch na Sméar, Cró Bheithe, Dawros, Dún Fionnachaidh, Dún Lúiche, Gleann Gheis, Gleann Léithín, Gort an Choirce, Inis Caoil, Inis Mhic an Doirn, Leitir Mhic an Bhaird, Maas, Machaire Chlochair, Maol Mosóg, Mín an Chladaigh, Na Croisbhealaí and Na Gleannta.	6
Inishowen	Buncrana	Birdstown, Buncrana Rural, Buncrana Urban, Burt, Castleforward, Desertegny, Fahan, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Mintiaghs, Newtown Cunningham, Three Trees and Whitecastle.	5
Inishowen	Carndonagh	Ardmalin, Ballyliffin, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Culdaff, Dunaff, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Inishowen), Gleneganon, Glentogher, Greencastle, Malin, Moville, Redcastle, Straid, and Turmone	4
Letterkenny–Milford	Letterkenny	Ballymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Letterkenny Urban, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr and Templedouglas.	7
Letterkenny–Milford	Milford	An Cheathrú Chaol, An Tearmann, Ballyarr, Carraig Airt, Cnoc Colbha, Creamhghort, Fánaid Thiar, Fánaid Thuaidh, Gartán, Glen, Glenalla, Grianfort, Killygarvan, Kilmacrenan, Loch Caol, Millford, Rathmelton, Rathmullan, Ros Goill and Rosnakill.	3
Lifford–Stranorlar		Allt na Péiste, An Clochán, Castlefinn, Cloghard, Clonleigh North, Clonleigh South, Convoy, Dooish, Feddyglass, Figart, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Stranorlar), Goland, Killygordon, Knock, Lettermore, Mín Charraigeach, Raphoe, St. Johnstown, Stranorlar, Treantaghmucklagh and Urney West.	6

Current councillors

The following were elected at the 2024 Donegal County Council election.

Party		Seats
	Fianna Fáil	10
	Sinn Féin	10
	100% Redress	4
	Fine Gael	3
	Labour	1
	Independent	9

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.^[8]

Council members from 2024 election
Local electoral area	Name	Party
Buncrana	Jack Murray		Sinn Féin
	Joy Beard		100% Redress
	Paul Canning		Fianna Fáil
	Terry Crossan		Sinn Féin
	Fionán Bradley		Fianna Fáil
Carndonagh	Ali Farren		100% Redress
	Martin McDermott		Fianna Fáil
	Albert Doherty		Sinn Féin
	Martin Farren		Labour
Donegal	Micheál Naughton		Fianna Fáil
	Noel Jordan		Sinn Féin
	Michael McMahon		Sinn Féin
	Jimmy Brogan		Independent
	Manus Boyle		Fine Gael
	Niamh Kennedy		Independent
Glenties	Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig		Independent
	Michael McClafferty		Independent
	Anthony Molloy		Fianna Fáil
	Brian Carr		Sinn Féin
	John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh		Sinn Féin
	Denis McGee		100% Redress
Letterkenny	Donal 'Mandy' Kelly		Fianna Fáil
	Tomás Seán Devine		100% Redress
	Gerry McMonagle		Sinn Féin
	Ciaran Brogan		Fianna Fáil
	Jimmy Kavanagh		Fine Gael
	Michael McBride		Independent
	Dónal Coyle		Fianna Fáil
Lifford–Stranorlar	Martin Scanlon		Independent
	Gary Doherty		Sinn Féin
	Martin Harley		Fine Gael
	Frank McBrearty Jnr		Independent
	Patrick McGowan		Fianna Fáil
	Dakota Nic Mheanman		Sinn Féin
Milford	Declan Meehan		Independent
	Liam Blaney		Fianna Fáil
	Pauric McGarvey		Independent

References

^ "Councillor Niamh Kennedy elected as Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council". Donegal Daily. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
^ "Establishment of Donegal County Council". Donegal County Council. Retrieved 31 October 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Local Authorities". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
^ Walsh, Harry (20 February 2020). "Harley says d'Hondt method could be used to form new government". Donegal News. p. 5.
^ Kelly, Fiach (26 March 2019). "Sipo finds against two councillors over RTÉ undercover report". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 April 2023.
^ County of Donegal Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 613 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 30 January 2019.
^ "Donegal County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 19 June 2024.